I videoed the Great Northern Diver, that I found on 15th December, on Saturday 19th December and it looked decidedly unwell. It was later caught by Seven Trent Wardens and found to have fishing tackle wrapped around its neck and bill. It was released but wasn’t seen again until 23rd December and, thankfully, looking in […]
Whilst looking for the Great Northern Diver at Staunton Harold Reservoir on Thursday 17th December, I received a phone call from Rob Hutchinson, around mid day, to say he may have found a Ring-necked Duck, but only had binoculars. I said I would be with him in 10 minutes with a scope. On my arrival
In these strange times of COVID19 lock-downs and Tier Systems in place, it is difficult for me to venture out of my comfort zone. In other-words, travel farther afield than ones home patch. I am very fortunate to live in a rural area and have plenty of places on my local doorstep to go birding.
2 local Cattle Egrets were found in amongst a flock of Mute Swans feeding in a field between Willington and Repton early afternoon ( 21st Nov). Quite a rare bird for my area so worth paying them a visit. There was also a male Peregrine briefly over the area. This morning 2 Yellow-legged Gulls at
In recent weeks the local Red Deer Stags at NT Calke Park, South Derbyshire have been very vocal. Their bellowing calls can be heard at great distance. Autumn is the time of year when the Stags engage in elaborate displays of dominance including roaring, parallel walks, and fighting. This behaviour is called The Rut, it
Any inland Diver is a rare find and usually one that is associated with the winter period. With Black-throated Diver now a very rare visitor to Derbyshire, last recorded in 2011 and Great Northern Diver now an annual visitor to my county, the Red-throated Diver in recent times seems to have gained second place status.
A Grey Phalarope, a small wader species that breeds in the high arctic and winters at sea, was discovered on the River Wye in the middle of Bakewell, Derbyshire, of all places on the late morning of the 25th October 2020. Just goes to show that rare birds can be found anywhere, along with an
A Rufous Bush Chat or Rufous Bush Robin, take your pick, was discovered at Stiffkey, in North Norfolk, during the early morning of Saturday 17th October 2020. It was the first time one had been seen in Britain for 40 years, so most modern day birders would want to see it. Needless to say the
